D-top



pril 21, 1931. G, A MCKEEL 1,802,153

D-TOP Filed March 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l fi' rl April 21, 1931. G, A McKEEL 1,802,153

D-TOP Filed March 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 31a/Danko@ Patented Apr. 21, 19,31

l Unirse STATES 1PA-T1E-NTl oFFic p GEORGE ARICKEEL, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN, AssiGNoR 'ro THR AMERICAN FORK a Hor. COMPANY, or CLnvRLANn, ORIO, A CoRPORA'rroN or o'irro Application filed March 23, 1929. Serial No. 349,305.

My invention relates to improvements in D-tops, such as are'used on the handles of implements such as shovels, spades and the like, and relates particularly to an improvementover that type of D-top exemplified,

for instance, in United States Letters Patent No..1,523,506, to H. L.. Bassett, patented January 20, 1925.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheetmetalv D-top which contains no sharp edges, which in other constructions may disagreeably engage with the handsv of .the user.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved sheet metal D-top which may `be formed of a pair of like sheet metal stampings capable of assembly and placement on the end of the implement handle ina simple, inexpensive manner. Anothergobject of my invention is to provide an improved D-top in whichthe above stated objects are satisfied andwhioh will be sturdy and strong, resisting breakage and Vbending in use. Y e A Another object of myi'invention is to provide a D-top of the aboveV character capable of being formed from, metallic blanks which may be stamped from a sheet ofmetal in such away thatvery little waste metal will be left in the sheet after Vsuccessive vof the stampings are blanked therefrom. Y f y Another object of my invention isto provide a D-top comprising sheet metalfparts which may be readily formed in a minimum of forming operations. n

Another obj ect of my invention is the provision of `a D-top ofany of the above characters having a stale-socket formed of opposed handle embracing parts susceptibleof resilient yielding so as to compressively embrace any of a number of implement ends varying slightly in size. y

Another object of my invention is to provide a D-top having tubular grip supporting arms which are nearly closed throughout their lengths. v Y f Another object of my invention is to inexpensively provide a strong, sturdy, tubular D-top which presents a good appearance rwhen. placed on theend of an implement.`

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel method of making D-tops for implement handles. f

Another object of my invention is to accomplish the foregoing objects or any or" them a in ,a D-top construction not requiring the welding of the complementary metallic parts forming the arms of the D-top.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will `become apparent byreference to the following igures of1dra'wing. 'Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view yof the D-top, partly broken away at one side to expose cer tain parts inlongitudinal medial section.

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the D-top as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig is an elevational view of one of the two like Vcomplementary sheet metal partsfor the D-top of Fig. 1.

Fig. lis a perspective view of one of the pair of clamping caps for the D-top ofFig. 1,.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View Of/one of the pairof clamping caps fortheD-top.

. Fig. 5 is a side elevationalV view of two of the complementary parts illustrated in Fig.

y3 Vplaced face to face in the relative positions assumed in use. l Fig. 6 is a .view'in side elevation of arm end portions of the two like complementary sheet metal parts placed as in Fig. 5' with the cap of Fig. 4 applied `to secure them together, the view being `from the inner side of the arms. Fig. 7 is a section ,taken on the line 'Tf-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 isa section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3. Fig.V 9 is a view of a strip of sheet metal whereon there is indicated the successive sheet metal portions from which the complementary parts shown in Fig. 3 are made, cut therefrom. f

V'Referring now to the drawings illustrating the Dtop embodying my invention, in all of which like parts are 4designatedrby like reference characters, at 1 Ishow one of a pair of complementary sheet 4metal 'stampings which are adapted to be placed face to face as shown inFig. 5,100 form a tubular .stale-socket and a pair of grip-supporting tubular arms eX- tending divergently from the stale-socket.

The stamping comprises a stem portion 2 of nearly semi-cylindrical form defining a channel, and a pair of divergent arms 3, likewise of channel form, being substantially U- shaped in all transverse sections. The inner walls 4 of the arm channels 3 are oined by an inturned web portion 5 of the stamping.

The stale-socket is formed by the complementary nearly cylindrical portions 2 of a pair of stampings, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, and the divergent arms are formed by placing the channeled arms 3 of the complementary pair of stampings together with their edges, as viewed in Fig. 3, brought together to forni a seam 6 extending longitudinally and medially of the handle in a transverse direction.

The Sea-m 6 is made more pronounced at 6 in the lower portions of the grip supporting arms and the stale-socket, whereat the adjacent edges of the two complementary stampings are substantially separated as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, in order to permit various sized handle ends, such as the handle end 7, to be inserted and tightly gripped between the stale-socket halves 2, as b y bolts 8, which are projected through aligned apertures 9 of the stale-socket halves and aligned spaced openings previously drilled through the handle en The arms 3 for each of the stampings 1 are rovided with handle grip supporting projections 10 preferably formed as complementary parts of a disc, each integrally joined longitudinally at 11 to the outer channel Wall 12 of the channelled arms.

As shown in Fig. 5, when the two stampings are placed together the complementary arm tips 10 are divided dametrically by a project-ion of the seam 6 of the tubular arms and are of parti-circular outline except in the lower portion of each extension where the tips are integrally merged with the outer walls 12 of the channeled arms 3.

Ordinarily D-tops for implement handles are manufactured complete ready for attachment to the implement handles and in order to best effect this in the D-top herein described, and so that such D-tops may be made complete and shipped to implement factories for attachment to implements without requiring a disassembling and/or assembling ,operation of the parts of the D-top itself, I contemplate the assembly of the D-top parts independently of the implement handle 7 and independently of the grip 13, by securing the ends of the arms 3 rigidly together ready for uselhy employing a clamping cap 14, Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive.

The clamping cap 14 is formed as a sheet metal stamping 4, with a parti-cylindrical side Wall 15 interrupted at one point for receiving the side arms 3 between the terminal portions 16 of the side wall. A plane centrally perforated end wall 17 supports the side Walls and is provided with a short tongue extension 18 extending outwardly beyond the side Wall terminals 16 to apply a pair of caps 14.

The like formed stampings are placed in the relative positions illustrated in Fig. 5 with the edges of the channel walls 4 and 12 brought together to form the seam 6 and with the arm extensions 10 defining a major part of a disc, and one of the caps is placed over each of the pair of arm extensions with the side Walls 15 enclosing the arcuate edge 19 of the joined extensions, projecting inwardly from the plane of the outer surfaces of the extensions 10 against which the inner surface of the cap wall 17 abuts.

The walls 15 are of sufficient length as to extend beyond the inner surfaces of the extensions 10 and are folded over as at 2O by a press operation to deform the metal of the walls 15 to clamp both of the arm extensions 10 side by side removably within the cap 14. A shallow recess 21 is thereby provided within the turned over portions 20 of the cap at the inner surfaces of the arm extensions 10 for the reception of the reduced ends 22 of the hand grips 13 when these are applied to complete the handle.

In forming the stampings 1, the arm extensions 1() are provided with complementary notches 24 to form a grip bolt receiving aperture whereby when the longitudinally bored grip 13 is placed between the grip receiving recesses 21, at the ends of the arms, a grip bolt 23 maybe projected through the apertured caps 14 between the notches 24 of the arm extensions 10 and through the bore of the grip, being Welded over at the exterior sides of both clamping caps 14, as shown.

Thev stamping also is originally formed to provide the widened seam 6 resulting in a compressible stale-socket by slightly increasing the height of the channel walls 4 and 12 in portions of the arms 3 disposed above the point 24.

Prior to the forming operation resulting in the stamping of Fig. 3, the stampings are bla-nked from a strip of sheet vmetal in approximately the forms shown at 1 and to effect economy in the use of cold rolled steel from which the D-tops are usually formed, the stems for the blanks are stamped from the metal lying vwithin the metal forming the divergent 'arms 3 of the stamping. A single operation, following blanking, is sufficient to give the stamping the form illustrated in F ig. 3 and to effect the forming of perforations 9, and forming the blank with the notches 24 preliminary to the assembling of the two like complementary sta-mpings.

The D-top of my invention is less expensive to manufacture than other sheet metal D-tops because fewer Iforming 'operations are required, the assembling is simpler Yand accomplished more expeditiously, theV dies'are inexpensive to make and maintain, Vless time is required to assemble the parts, and less metal is used during the'blanking operation.

The D-top illustrated and described lcomprises tubular side arms which are practically closed to the ingress of dirt and moisture. The arms are of tubular form having parallel walls throughout their lengths fromv the point where they join the stale-socket to the grip supporting 'portions 10,A Which'are of disc form to conform to the shape of the gripends. Q f The handle has a very sightly appearance and no uncomfortable objectionable sharp or rough edges are provided andthe D-top is, therefore, more Vpleasing to the ultimate user thereof, as well asbeing of pleasing appearance. Y

The widened seam 6- is for the purpose of providing a resiliently compressible stalesocket. When the socket is telescoped over the end of a handleand bolts 8 project through the complementary stale-socket halves and the drilled `handle 7 and headed over on both sides,the"stalesocket halves are drawn downl very tightly together against the resiliency of'the'sheet metal material forming the D-top, the lower portions of which fulcrum onl the'shoulders 24 of the joined complementary D-top halves.

Having thus described my invention in a particular embodiment, Iam aware that nu- Imerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodiment herein illustrated and described but without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. I claim:l l

1. A sheet metal D-top comprising a pair of complementary halves each channelled on its inner face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket portionand a pair ofarni portions extending divergingly therefrom,

each of channelled cross-sectional form, a sheet metal web forming the end wall for the the stale-socket Vportion A integrally joining the inner walls of the arm portion channels, said halves adapted to be placed face-to face to form 'grip-supporting tubular arms and a handle receiving stale-socket with the longitudinally channeled arm edges brought together into abutting Y relation, clamping 'means for the free ends of each pair of abut.- ting arm portions to hold them against rela'- tive displacement, said stale socket portions provided with' aligned perforations for securing the D-top on to the inserted end of an implement handle inserted Within the stalesocket. e Y

2. A sheet metal'D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of 4generally Y- formeach channeled on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted tobe placed face to face to be secured .together by their arm portions to form a handle receiving stale socket and tubular grip supporting arms, means to secure the arm portions together including agripcap element embracing the free ends of the arm portions, and means to tightly clamp said'stale-socket portions inwardly against the end of an implement handle projecting therebetween.

3. A" sheet metal D-top includinga pair i of complementary stampings of generally-YY- form each channeled, on one face to formy a nearlysemi-cylindrical stale-socket stem p0rt'ion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face to be secured together by their arm j portions to form va handle receiving stale socket and tubular grip supporting arms, and vmeans to tightly clamp said stale-'socket portions 'inwardly aga-inst the end of animplement handie projecting therebetween, the edges of said stampings being contiguous near the ends of the arms and merely adjacent in portions toward and including the stale-socket portion,

and an element overlapping the arm portions to prevent separation `thereof upon clamping the stale socket portions inwardly.

4. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y- 1 form each channeled 'on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical,'stale-socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, j said stampings adapted vto be placed face to-.face to be ysecuredy together by their arml portions to from'a 'handle receiving stale socket and tubular grip supporting arms, and meanslto tightly clamp'said stale-socket portions inwardly against theend of an implement handle projecting therebetweemthe edges of said stampings being contiguousk near 'the ends of the arms and merely adjacent in porportion, and a cap for each arm adapted to embracingly engage the outer edge portions of the-two arm ends to rigidly secureV them ends of the arms and merely adj acentk in por-V V tions toward and including the stale-socketk tions toward and including the stale-socket portion, and a cap for each arm adapted to embracingly engage the outer edge portions of the two arm ends to rigidly secure them together', said cap having lateral walls infolded around the lateral borders of the arm ends.

6. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally 1- form each channeled on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket stern portion, and a pair of channeled arm, portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face to be secured together by their arm portions to lform a handle receiving stale socket and tubular grip supporting arms, and means to .tightly clamp said stale-socket portions inwardly against the end of an implement handle projecting therebetween, said arms each comprising a pair of abutting grip supporting tongues arranged side by side, and means to secure a grip element between the opposing inner suriaces of the said pairs of tongues, said means comprising a perforated element overlapping each pair of tongues and an element projected into the grip element through a said perforation.

7. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complement-ary stamping of generally Y- form each channeled on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket stem por tion, and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, `said stampings adapted to be placed face to face to be secured together by their arm portions to form a handle receiving stale socket and tubular grip supporting arms, and means to tightly clamp said stale-socket portions inwardly against the end of an implement handle projecting therebetween, said arms each comprising a pair of abutting grip supportn ing tongues arranged side by side, and a cap for each pair of tongues, said caps each comprising flange portions folded over the outer edges of the contiguous pairs of tongues to hold them rigidly in relative laterally disposed relation, said caps being centrally perforated to admit a grip supporting bolt projected through both caps and between notched inner edges of the contiguous tongues.

8. A D-top comprising a sheet metal body portion including a socket portion adapted to receive the shani-r of an implement handle and s ace-d side arms, a wooden grip bar insorte between the ends of the side. arms, metal caps iitting over each end of the grip bar and each having a lateral wall cut away to receive the end of a side arm, the upper ends of the side arms having ay portion wider than other portions disposed more remote from the upper edges thereof, said ca =s embracing by the remaining portions o their lateral Walls the said side arm upper portions above and below the said wider portion.

9. A D-top comprising a body portion formed of sheet metal and including acompressible socket portion adapted to receive an implement shank, spaced side arms of tubular form, a grip bar inserted between the ends of the side arms, caps surrounding the ends of the respective side arms and the corresponding ends of the grip bar, cach cap having a lateral wall cut away for receiving the end of the corresponding arm, said cap and said arm end being so formed with interlocking portions as to prevent longitudinal displacement of the cap on the arm.

10. A D-top comprising a sheet metal body portion including spaced tubular side arms, each arm having a rounded top, a grip bar between the ends of the said arms, a pair of metal caps each having a ferrule portion fitting over the end of the grip bar and its bottcm end cut away to receive the ends of the side arms, each arm end fitting within and being substantially covered by one of the caps, and means for connecting the caps to the arms and grip bar.

l1i A D-top comprising a sheet metal bod portion inciuding spaced side arms, eac arm having a rounded top and an inwardly extending edge shoulder, a grip bar between the ends of the said arms,'a pair of metal caps each having a ferrule portion fitting over the end of the grip bar and its bottom end cut away to receive the ends of the side arms, each arm end fitting within and bein substantially covered by one of the caps, said grip bar making abutting engagement with said inwardly extending edge shoulders, and means for connecting the caps to the arms and grip bar.

12. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally Y-form each channeled on one face to form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket stem portion, and a pair of channeled arm portions exten-ling divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face to be secured together by their arm portions to form a handle receiving stale-socket and tubular grip supporting arms, and means to tightly clamp said stale-socket portions inwardly against the end of an implement handle projecting therebetween, the edges of said stampings being contiguous near the ends of the arms and merely adjacent in portions toward and including the stale-socket portion, and a cap for each arm adapted to embracingly engage the outer edge portions of the two arm ends to rigidly secure them together, said cap having lateral walls enfolded around the lateral borders of the arm ends, and overlapping the ends of a grip extending between the arm ends.

13. A sheet metal D-top including a pair of complementary stampings of generally lil) Y-form each channeled on one facepto form a nearly semi-cylindrical stale-socket stem portion and a pair of channeled arm portions extending divergently therefrom, said stampings adapted to be placed face to face to be secured together by their arm portions to form a handle receiving stale-socket and tubular grip supporting arms, means to tightly clamp said stale-socket portions inwardly against the end of an implement handle projecting therebetween, and a cap for each arm adapted to embracingly engage the ends of the arm portions to connect them together.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiX my signature this 23rd day of February, 1929` GEORGE A. MCKEEL. 

